Northern Pass Achieves Major Federal Permitting Milestone

Final Environmental Impact Statement Finds Project as Proposed is
“Preferred Alternative”

MANCHESTER, N.H.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today issued the Final
Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for the Northern Pass
hydroelectric transmission project (NPT), representing a significant
step forward in the permitting process. The FEIS concluded that the
proposed Northern Pass route is the “preferred alternative,” that the
project provides substantial benefits, and will result in only minimal
impacts. Required by the National Environmental Policy Act, the FEIS is
a product of years of review of project environmental impacts by the DOE
in cooperation with other federal agencies, and reflects input
collected from thousands of comments submitted by key stakeholders
and the public.

As stated in today’s DOE decision, “The proposed DOE action in the final
EIS is to issue a Presidential permit to the Applicant, Northern Pass
LLC, to construct, operate, maintain, and connect a new electric
transmission line across the U.S./Canada border in northern New
Hampshire (NH).” The FEIS also recognizes Northern Pass’ ability to help
meet the region’s energy challenges. “In addition to diversifying the
electricity supply, the utilization of low-carbon hydropower can help
meet public policy goals to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.”

“We are extremely pleased that DOE has completed its FEIS and greatly
appreciate the years of hard work by all of the experts involved in this
thorough review of Northern Pass,” said Bill Quinlan, president of
Eversource operations in New Hampshire. “As this clean energy project
continues to advance through the final stages of the New Hampshire
permitting process, we are encouraged to have reached this major federal
permitting milestone. We are now another step closer to realizing the
many benefits Northern Pass has to offer New Hampshire and the region.”

Highlights of the FEIS include:

• DOE concludes the proposed Northern Pass route is the “preferred
  alternative”
• New England will see a reduction of carbon emissions by 9 percent, or
  2.5 million metric tons
• The “total average scenic impact” of Northern Pass is considered “low”
  to “very low”
• Northern Pass will create 6,747 jobs in New Hampshire during
  construction, as well as 901 permanent jobs
• During construction, Northern Pass will generate more than $734
  million of additional economic output within New Hampshire
• New Hampshire will see an increase of $37 million in annual statewide
  property tax collections once Northern Pass is built
• There will be no “population-level effects to any protected species”
  due to Northern Pass
• Noise levels associated with Northern Pass during operation will be
  well below EPA guidance levels
• Northern Pass poses no health risks associated with EMFs
• There are no authoritative studies that demonstrate impacts on tourism
  from transmission lines. Tourism is affected more by factors such as
  the national economy and the price of gasoline

Northern Pass is now awaiting the issuance of its federal permits,
including DOE’s Presidential Permit, a Special Use Permit from the U.S.
Forest Service, and the Section 404 Permit from the U.S. Army Corps of
Engineers. All major state and federal permits are expected in 2017, and
all major contractor and equipment contracts are fully executed.
Northern Pass will be substantially complete by the third quarter of
2020. Following testing, the line will be in service by the end of 2020.

“New Hampshire and the region are facing serious energy challenges,
including having some of the highest electricity prices in the
Continental United States,” said Quinlan. “Customers, businesses and
elected officials have been calling for solutions, and the issuance of
the FEIS positions NPT well to help address these critical challenges.”

Beyond its clean energy benefits and energy cost savings, Northern Pass
will provide a number of benefits unique to New Hampshire, including
millions annually in additional tax revenue to communities along the
route; $7.5 million to the North Country Job Creation Fund to develop
and retain jobs in the North Country; thousands of acres set aside for
conservation, recreation and mixed-use; and the $200 million Forward NH
Fund to support clean energy innovations, economic development,
community investment, and tourism.

The Northern Pass transmission line begins at the Canadian border in
Pittsburg, New Hampshire and extends 192 miles to Deerfield, New
Hampshire where it connects to the New England grid. More than 80
percent of the line will be located along existing transmission
corridors or buried along roadways to eliminate potential view impacts
in the White Mountain National Forest area. Northern Pass will provide a
robust, new interconnection path between the Québec and New England
electric systems, and will be controlled by the regional system
operator, ISO-New England.

The Northern Pass is a 192-mile electric transmission line project
that will bring to New England 1,090 megawatts of clean hydropower. This
reliable and affordable source of power will also bring a wide range of
benefits to the region, including millions of dollars in energy cost
savings and a significant reduction in carbon emissions. To learn
more about Northern Pass, go to www.northernpass.us.

Eversource (NYSE: ES) transmits and delivers electricity and natural
gas to more than 3.6 million electric and natural gas customers in
Connecticut, Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Recognized as the top U.S.
utility for its energy efficiency programs by the sustainability
advocacy organization Ceres, Eversource harnesses the commitment of its
approximately 8,000 employees across three states to build a single,
united company around the mission of safely delivering reliable energy
and superior customer.

Contacts

Northern Pass
Martin Murray, 603-634-2228
martin.murray@eversource.com
or
Kaitlyn
Woods, 603-634-2418
kaitlyn.woods@eversource.com